MICHAEL KELLAND HUTCHENCE
We are here as people whose lives have been touched by Michael Hutchence – some of us remotely, some of us in the closeness of family life and friendship. We are here in a Christian Cathedral, brought face to face with death, an untimely death, a death that did not come in the way we expect or believe that death should come. What do you do in the face of death?

1. Be Thankful
All of us here have memories, recollections of Michael; some of them are longstanding, from the intimacy of family life; for others they are more recent, from the circles of friendship, members of the band, professional colleagues, fans. We are grateful to those who have already spoken for bringing these memories to our minds.

What we must do is to take the opportunity to thank God for the person whose life we shared and who made these memories possible:

Michael, the loyal son and brother who always kept in touch;
Michael, the devoted partner, thrilled at being a father;
Michael, to those who knew him closely, the gentle and generous one;
Michael, who shared his time and talents with charities for the wellbeing of others;
Michael, who brought joy and delight to millions.

2. Be Human
Someone you loved is dead, and you will not see him, someone you counted on is gone, and he won’t be there; someone who was your rock is no more. And in that, there is pain, loss, hurt: and it must be.

The pain, the loss, the hurt are made worse by the suggestion that this was a death of despair: what was it about his life- its circumstances, its nature, its pressures – that it could be beyond bearing?

Funerals bring us face to face with questions like that. They are one of the few opportunities we have to share our humanness with each other – our pain, our loss, our questions, our despair. With a word, a touch, an act of kindness to say “I hurt and I know you hurt – I feel for you – I so wish it were otherwise”.

So often, we don’t say those things to each other, perhaps because we’re busy, or embarrassed or afraid, afraid we’ll say the wrong thing, afraid we won’t say the right or clever thing.

There is no right thing, no clever thing to say: nothing we say will change death or change the pain of grief today. There is simply the opportunity to stand with other human beings and identify with them in their grief. Our presence, our fumbled words, our practical helps, all of them ways of being human, all of them ways of seeking to comfort and support each other.

3. Be Realistic
None of us likes occasions like this: I don’t like them, and you don’t like them. The great temptation is to make believe, to get caught up in the planning and excitement of a large gathering like this, to be preoccupied with yet another picture, yet another rumour to be distracted, to pretend, somehow to try to rob the event of its starkness and its reality.

But death is real – Michael’s death is real – and death waits for each one of us. It is a sinister figure in black, patiently waiting, knowing that in time each of us will meet him. The lives of all of us run their course and finish, sooner or later, suddenly or in the fullness of time.

Over against that, there is a magnificent truth: God hates death. God hates death so much that, in his extravagant love, he surrendered what matters most to him – his own Son – to deal with it: death will not hold sway forever; the time will come when God will end death for his people. For those who are God’s friends, for those who are on God’s side, for those who hope for the present and the future is not in themselves but in Jesus who endured death in their place, for them God has smashed the power of death and gives them life forever.

That is what I mean by “be realistic”. Death cannot be avoided: but it can be transformed.

Human beings have experienced the mystery of death, and the pain of grief, since time immemorial. Every society has developed rites to mark the passage from life through death, and to commemorate the dead. Today we do that through this service. The wounds of grief need time and care to heal. The service may help this process, by enabling us to acknowledge our loss, give thanks for the life of Michael, make our last farewell, and begin to take up life once more. Christians believe in God, the source and giver of life. God’s good news proclaims Jesus Christ to be our living Lord, who laid down his life for us. He knew death, yet triumphed over it, drawing its sting, and was raised by God to new life. Christians affirm the presence of the Spirit of Christ, who helps us in our weakness. Yet we, with all mortals, still face death. Those who put their trust in Christ share the sufferings of their Lord, even in the midst of God’s love and care. In this service, we proclaim the Christian hope in the face of death – Jesus Christ, whose resurrection is the promise of our own.

I’ve been asked to speak today on behalf of Michael’s millions of fans .. for whom this tragedy has made the world a much darker place.

Firstly … to Michael’s close friends … his family … and his band mates … we send our heartfelt wishes of support … We share your sorrow at this horrible time … We mourn with you and we want you to know that your grief is being shared by all of us who looked up to Michael.

Michael Hutchence was a star … in every sense of word. He shone his light into our lives .. and he made the world a brighter place … He loved life … and we loved his life … and to some degree, each of us, at some time … shared it with him.

We admired his talent .. We respected his dignity .. and we envied his cool. For the fans, it was never about headlines .. It was only ever about the music .. and he loved his music .. his lyrics ..his memories .. even his guitar solos!

The music Michael and his friends made ..
will live in each of us.

Michael made us Dance …
and made us Sing.
He made us Laugh …
and made us Cry.

He was everything we wanted him to be.
He was one in many millions …
and we can’t believe he is gone.

On behalf of your many fans, Michael …
THANK YOU …
You touched us all during your time here …

We’ll miss you, Mate!
But we’ll never let you die.

Richard Wilkins

A life so vital and gifted and full of promise, as God created from the first. Who knows what goes through a man’s thoughts, except his own spirit that is within him. Only he and the Lord know. He answers every prayer. His mercies are new every morning and a new light will dawn.

The following is a saying from the indigenous people of the world. You have noticed that everything a man does is in a circle and that is because the power of the world always works in circles and everything tries to be round. The sky is round and I have heard that the earth is round like a ball and so are the stars.

The wind in its greatest power whirls. Birds make nests in circles for theirs is the same religion as ours. Even the seasons form a great circle in their changing and always come back again to where they were.

The life of a man is a circle from childhood to childbirth and so it is in everything where power moves.

I would like to thank all the people that helped us make this possible today and your kindness and support is gratefully accepted. We would like to thank all those who have sent flowers and condolences. It has been very much appreciated.

I would like to share with you on behalf of myself and the members of INXS some thoughts about our friend and workmate Michael Hutchence. We met as school friends, we played music because we loved it.

Together with Michael we experienced some very hard times and some very good times. The hard times made us stronger and the good times we will always cherish. As a songwriting team for more than 20 years he and I had written hundreds of songs together.

His lyrics are the soul and depth which have touched millions of people around the earth.

He had exceptional communication skills. Michael was one of the greatest singers and stage performers of his generation. We are so proud to have worked and played with such a talented and gifted man.

Over the years INXS have had every type of media imaginable – the best and the worst. That is human nature. Some have chosen to judge Michael harshly. But tragically they chose not to tell one glaring truth. Michael had spent almost his entire adult life performing and giving 110 per cent of his being to entertaining people around the world.

He gave himself away to bring enjoyment and happiness into other people’s lives. What price is happiness?

Michael was a sociable guy and yet he took life seriously. He had great courage. He stood up to those he felt he needed to stand up to. He loved to travel and explore the world. He loved Australia. He loved his friends.

He loved his family. He was a caring father and a passionate family man. He loved music and he loved his fans. We ask that the band’s fans and for those who are touched by his death not to react in any ways to hurt themselves. Michael would not have wanted that.

We will remember him with love and affection. We will all miss you Michael. God bless you.

Andrew Farriss

On November 28, 1996, my brother was in Los Angeles and he spent Thanksgiving with us and it was a wonderful Thanksgiving. We held hands around the table and we gave thanks for all our blessings.

Today, November 27, 1997, is also Thanksgiving Day. I give thanks for being blessed to have my brother. The kindest most deeply sensitive, loving man.

I received a fax today from Gibson Kemp and I think the band would certainly like to hear this.

Do not stand at my band and weep, I am not there, I do not sleep, I am a thousand winds that blow, I am the diamond glints on snow, I am the sunlight on rice and grain, I am the gentle autumn’s rain, when you awaken in the morning hush, I am the swift uplifting rush, a quiet bird’s encircled flight, I am the soft stars that shine at night, do not stand at my grave and cry, I am not there and did not die.

Tina Hutchence

A part of me died the other day and strangely a part of me was born, and then there is the part that will carry the memory of my brother Michael forever in my heart.

Michael and I were only two years apart when we grew up arm-in-arm. From the very beginning all the signs were there that Michael was destined to lead an extraordinary life. When he first opened his soulful eyes, he had two loving wonderful parents Patricia and Kelland from whom he inherited gentlemanly charm, accommodating nature and charisma.

With the help of our sister Tina, who played an integral part, feeding, helping, bathing, caring and being, when finally Mike came along our family was complete.

I have an early lyric book of Michael’s in which when he first started writing (and) there is a list of 10 things he wanted to achieve in his life. The first one was to conquer the world. I can’t remember what the other nine were but I’m sure he achieved them too.

Michael was a poet, a singer and a gifted performer. He touched the lives of everybody he met, even people he never met.

It hasn’t been easy being Michael’s brother, it’s strange, it’s been fantastic at times and other times the hardest, but having Michael for my brother I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

My heart goes out to Paula and beautiful, darling girl Tiger, and the other girls, to the band, to his friends and people who have known Michael and lost a tremendous friend.

Thanks to the support from friends, the love I’m receiving at the moment is helping me through this.

I cannot stress enough the importance of friendship and love in today’s times.

The other night I went and spent some time in the room, his room at the Ritz, to see if it had any answers. It seemed a sad room, it definitely wasn’t Michael.

And if Michael, who loved Oscar Wilde, would have identified with the famous poet’s last words “either this wallpaper goes or I do” then I understand.

On behalf of Michael I would like to thank my family for the love they gave him and together these words may have meaning for us all.

To mourn too long for those who we love is self-indulgent, but to honour their memory with a promise to live a little better for having known them gives purpose to their life and some reason for their death.

Rhett Hutchence

With Thanksgiving for the Life of Michael Kelland Hutchence
22nd January 1960 – 22nd November 1997
Thursday, 27th November 1997, 2:30 pm
St Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney

Before the service begins, “By My side” by INXS is played.
(The people stand as the Choir and Clergy enter the Cathetral).

GATHERING IN GODS NAME

THE GREETING
The Very Reverend Boak Jobbins, Dean of Sydney

SCRIPTURE SENTENCES
(Sung by the Choir) Croft

I am the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live, and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.
John 11: 25-6

I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth. And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another.
Job 19: 25-7

We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed by the name of the Lord.
1 Timothy 6: 7, Job 1: 21

PRAYER
(Led by Bradley Watt, said by all)

Loving God, you alone are the source of life.
May your life-giving Spirit flow through us,
and fill us with compassion, one for another.
In our sorrow give us the calm of your peace.
Kindle our hope, and let our grief give way to joy;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The people sit.

THE REMEMBRANCE

EULOGY
Richard Wilkins, Music Journalist

MUSIC
“Into My Arms”, Nick Cave

TRIBUTES
Andrew Farris, INXS
Tina Schorr
Rhett Hutchence

THE MINISTRY OF GOD’S WORD

PSALM
(Sung by the Choir)

I lift up my eyes to the hills: but where shall I find help? My help comes from the Lord: who has made heaven and earth. He will not suffer your foot to stumble: and he who watches over you will not sleep. Be sure he who has charge of Israel: will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord himself is your keeper: the Lord is your defence upon your right hand; The sun shall not strike you by day: nor shall the moon by night. The Lord will defend you from all evil: it is he who will guard your life. The Lord will defend your going out and your coming in: from this time forward for ever more. Glory to God; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: as in the beginning, so now, and for ever. Amen.

BIBLE READING
1 Corinthians 15
The Very Reverend Boak Jobbins

HYMN
(The people stand)
Crimond
1 The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want.
He makes me down to lie
in pastures green, he leadeth me
the quiet waters by.

2 My soul he doth restore again;
and me to walk doth make
within the paths of righteousness,
e’en for his own name’s sake.

3 Yea, though I walk in death’s dark vale,
yet will I fear non ill:
for thou art with me; and thy rod
and staff me comfort still.

5 Goodness and mercy all my life
shall sureley follow me:
and in God’s house for evermore
my dwelling-place shall be.

THE PRAYERS (Led by Canon Jim Holbeck)

THE LORD’S PRAYER (Said by all)
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.

THE GRACE (Said by all)
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all evermore. Amen.

THE BLESSING The Dean
The people stand as the procession leaves the Cathedral.

Never Tear Us Apart by INXS is played.

Please remain in the Cathedral until after the family and other chief mourners have left.

Search

The Team

Michael Hutchence's Official Memorial is graciously brought to you by Susie Hutchence, Jacqueline Ferrari, Mario Ferrari, and Ian Patterson.

Thank you

We wish to acknowledge the kindly contributions to Michael's site by INXS, CIL, N. Kothari, R. Simpkins, and everyone else who have contributed. We especially send our gratitude to all of Michael's friends and fans around the World who have contributed so much through caring e-mails and the Guestbook.